The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-06-11

can hold his o0n with the Other
ministers in the place. Now, you
see''-becoming conlidential-"th there
is certain set in our church that
are strong on doctrine, and another
class that don't care anything about
it, and won't hear it preached
They mostly don't belong to the
church, but they come regularly
and rent our best pews, and we feel
bound to consider their feelings
But it takes man with some tact
to get along with these things and
not offend any one"
"Indeed it must" said the strang-
err.
And Mrs. Gilkey said, in further
illustration OF the point "Why, we
never keep man more than six
months without one set or the other
getting down on him. He's sure to
be in hot water somewhere. Oh,
dear why don't you catch that?'
This last exclamation was not adj
dressed to the stranger, but to Mr.
key. For in the excitement of the
discussion the lady had loosened
her hold upon the bandbox, and a
sudden jolt Of the cars had precipi-
tated it into the aisle. With the aid
Of a fellow passenger and II cane Mr.
Gilkcy fshed up the precious parcel
and by the time this feat was ac-
complished the train was moving
slowly into the Brandon station.
Mr.. Ames shook hands with the
stranger at parting and said he was
glad to have met him; after which
ceremony the travellers repaired to
their several destinations, Mrs. Gill
key with grave forebodings lest
the fall should have resulted
disustrously to the contents of the
bandbox Mr. Ames with a placid
satisfaction with himself and the
world ut large, and the stranger
but as he is Il stranger we cannot
guess with any accuracy what his
thoughts and feeling were.
The church was filled that Sab
bath morning, and an agreeable
iluttcr of expectation pervaded the
well dressed congregation. Their
faces wore that wide awake, alert
expression Of persons who expect to
be entertained.
Mr.. Amcs felt very tranquil in
spirit rs he leisurely ascended the
church steps, Just in time for the
opcninganhem. As heleaned back
in his seat and glanced over the
crowded housc he said to himself
that he, for one, was glad they were
going to have Il steady pastor, and
he was going to do his best to en-
courage him: He'd get introduced
after service, and invitc.him up to
dinner tomorrow. He nudgcd his
wife and conlidcd to her this resolve
and she said "'twas just the thing"
He craned his neck around to get
Il sight of the new man, but the desk
completely hid him from view us he
in the large pulpit chair, resting his
head ON shapely hand.
With the last notes ofthe anthem,
Mrs. Gillley sailed down the aisle in
all the glory of her new bonnet,
while her husband followed at Il re-
spectiul distance behind the swaying
plumes and spreading brin. Mrs.
Ames whispered to her husband
that twould be just like the Gilkeys
to try to get in ahead with the min
lister that woman was so pushing.
lie must remember and speak to
the minister right after church.
The choir sat down with Il huttcr
and gigglc. There was bricfpause.
Then the preacher advanced to the
desk and announced the hymn. As
the the mellow tones OF his voice
lloated out over their heads the
waiting congregation smiled gracious
approval. But what was ii made
Mr.. Ames start so violently at the
first words of the reader, stare hard
at the desk and back into his seat
with an expression of blank dis
may? Mr.. Gilkey observed it from
where he sat and wondered what il
meant. One look at the minister
told the story. He was the stranger
who had shared Mr.. Ames' seat in
the cars the night before
The subsequent proceedings were
il iraught with painful interest for al
least two Of that audience. Mrs
Amcs whispered to her husband that
Mrs. DR.. Holmes wore new seal
skin, but he needed her not, and
when the congregation rose to sing
he kept his seat, despite that lady.
reproving look. He stole IL furtivo
glance at Mr.. Gilkey to see how he
t bore it. That gentleman, after some
discussion with his wife, arose mC